(no subject)

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of big pop culture phenomenons affect what people name their children. I've read articles that say Twilight, Harry Potter, and even Teen Mom have made certain names popular.

Now, The Hunger Games is a popular book series, and the movie just had the third-highest opening weekend ever. But the names are very distinct; a lot are quite odd. So, my question: do you think any THG-related names are going to become popular, or are they just too strange? Have you seen them on any children yet?


Katniss
Primrose (I admit, the first time I read it, I thought it was gorgeous)
Effie
Glimmer
Clove
Enobaria
Johanna
Rue
Madge

Peeta
Gale
Haymitch
Marvel
Cato
Finnick
Thresh
Cinna
Seneca

Comments

[lalonde.livejournal.com]

I love Rue as a name,

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

Me too. I have used it for an on-line character.

[avec-bonheur.livejournal.com]

Me too. As soon as I read it I fell in love.

[mirhanda.livejournal.com]

Just remember its meaning (regret). I'd only use it as a nickname for a name starting with Ru, (Ruby, Ruth, Rufina) personally because of the meaning.

[renishas.livejournal.com]

I do love Primrose as a name. Gale is nice and so is Finnick.

Clove, Glimmer, and Marvel are a little too out there for me.

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

For Glimmer and Marvel, Katniss actually said, "ugh, the names the people in District 1 give their children are so ridiculous." And while Katniss, Primrose, Rue, Gale, Thresh, and Clove are all nature-related in some way, Marvel and Glimmer are just random adjectives.

[bookity.livejournal.com]

I like Johanna, but that's like the most normal name in that bunch! Also like Finnick, but I don't think I would use it. Rue is pretty too, but don't think I'd use that either.

[etacanis.livejournal.com]

I can see Primrose, Effie, Johanna and Rue as names. Clove too, but I'm biased because I hate cloves. For the boys, I've seen a lot of people suggesting Finnick as an alternative to Finley and other names with 'Finn' as a nickname.

I actually like Johanna & Rue though, tbh.

[schexyschteve.livejournal.com]

I loved Johanna(h) as a name before the books.
I think Rue could become popular. She's a sweet character, and it's a nice name (or nickname).
I'm really liking Finnick as well. He was a pretty awesome character, and it could be a good alternative for people who like Finn as a nickname, but aren't crazy about Finley or Phineas as the longer name.

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

I like Effie as a nickname. I swear I've heard it before, but can't recall where.

[etacanis.livejournal.com]

A main character in the UK version of Skins was called Effy, with her full name being Elizabeth :)

[lissalynn.livejournal.com]

Yep, and as nns for Elizabeh go I quite like it.

[tiffanytee.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth has more versatility than any other girl's name. Add Effy to the growing list of nicknames!

[charlsie-esq.livejournal.com]

Effie was a character in Dream Girls I think. And maybe Mrs Doubtfire, too.

[rorylareina.livejournal.com]

And she's Lena's sister in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series!

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

Ya know, it's probably from that.

[ninjanette.livejournal.com]

I really love Rue, and think Clove is cute but I dont think I could actually use that one.
For the male names I like FInnick and I really liked the name Gale as soon as I read them, but think it would be associated with the female version Gail all the time, so I wouldn't use it for that reason.

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

I really like Katniss (which is an actual plant), Primrose, Johanna, and Rue. I once had a babysitter named Johanna, and Josephine is slowly rising, so other "Jo" names could, too. For the boys, I like Cato though I hate the character, Finnick (nn Finn), Cinna, and Seneca. I like Thresh in theory, but threshing has to do with crops and that might be weird.

[sparklymoon.livejournal.com]

Primrose, Johanna and Madge I can see. I could tolerate Effie, Clove and Rue (Golden Girls reference, but also not a nice word to name your kid). Glimmer sounds like a Cabbage Patch name; Katniss and Enobaria are way too out there.

Gale is a bit girly... Cato and Seneca make me think Greek emperors... I could like Cinna for a girl, depending how it's pronounced.

[lissalynn.livejournal.com]

Actually, IA about Cinna for a girl. Could be cute.

[sparklymoon.livejournal.com]

I think Cinnamon is really cute, so Cinna works for me :)

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm a native English speaker, and somehow, I didn't connect Rue with the word English "rue" once! I kept thinking of the French "rue" for street.

[sparklymoon.livejournal.com]

And I'm a semi-native French speaker (immersion for the past 25 years, native English) and I didn't think at all of Street. Go figure!

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Haha! The mind is a funny thing!

[waitingonsunday.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I were discussing this the other day! He asked if namesakes had started popping up yet. None that I've seen, but I'd love to come across some.

I've had Rue and Effie on my list of favorites for a long time. I also love the name Joanna, but can't quite do Johanna. The books (which I lurrrrve) have made me add both Primrose and Katniss to my list. I can't imagine actually using either, but they're both very pretty, and I love the nickname Prim. And President Coin's first name, mentioned only once, is Alma, another favorite of mine. (My last name is Coin, so I also loved that!)

Seneca is a guilty pleasure of mine (I associate it with Seneca guns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_guns), which I find intriguing), but I've always thought I'd prefer it on a girl. It's interesting on a boy, though. I was already a fan of Finn, Finnegan, and Finton, and the books made me come to love Finnick, as well.

[charlsie-esq.livejournal.com]

I remember Seneca as a boy's name. A soap opera character. I don't remember the soap or the actor, just the name.

[silvermidnight.livejournal.com]

I haven't read/seen the hunger games but I like Seneca. Unfortunately it's the name of a town near me so I can't use it.

[thegreylioness.livejournal.com]

I like the names Gale, Peeta (to me it just sounds remarkably like Peter but with an accent), Cato (although I've only seen it as "bad guys" names), I like Rue, Johanna.

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

Peeta (to me it just sounds remarkably like Peter but with an accent)

That's where I thought Peeta came from, too. And Peter is generally a heroic name (think Peter Pan, Peter Parker, etc.), so yeah.

[thegreylioness.livejournal.com]

And Peter Pevensie. :)

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I'm reading the first book right now so I haven't even encountered all of these names in the books yet! None of the names are ones I would use except maybe Gale. That doesn't mean I would dislike some of them on other people's children though.

My initial thought on Katniss was fairly neutral, maybe leaning toward disliking it. Now, I've kind of gotten used to it. I was talking with a friend about the books and the name sounded pretty when she said it, but tonight, when I say it, it's reminding me of tetanus. That's the first it's occurred to me though.
Primrose is pretty. I think the nn Prim is cute too.
Effie is a cute name, but I can only see it as a nn.
Glimmer is ridiculous.
Clove I really don't like.
Enobaria looks and sounds like a disease to me.
Johanna is nice enough.
Rue is really cute and I adore the character so far.
Madge doesn't sound attractive to me, and it seems like a nn.

Peeta reminds me of pita bread and Peter with a dropped 'r.' Love his character so far though.
Gale I like. I think Gale sounds strong. It doesn't read as girly to me, and even if it did, I have a thing for "girly" names on guys.
Haymitch sounds like a last name to me and not one I would want to use as a first.
Marvel makes me think of the comics before the word. Is that weird? Anyway, I don't think it works as a name.
Cato is okay, I suppose.
Finnick I can't make up my mind on. It reminds me of finicky, but if I put that aside, I kind of like the sound. It also calls to mind Fennec foxes, which are really cute.
Thresh I'm not too sure about either. I think I want to like it, but I just don't.
Cinna strikes me as more feminine. I'm not crazy about it anyway.
Seneca I could see working as a name, but it seems more feminine too. I guess it's the 'a' ending. That and it reminds me of Sacajawea for some bizarre reason. Still, the more I think about it, the more I think the right boy could rock it.

[mirhanda.livejournal.com]

Agree that Enobaria sounds like a disease.

I often see Madonna referred to as Madge, so it can definitely be a nickname. Usually it's for Margaret, I think.

Peeta makes me think of the odious PETA organization so, EWWWW.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I was lying awake last night, having just read more of the book, and started thinking about this post. Only then did the Peeta/PETA thing occur to me. I couldn't believe I didn't think of it sooner! And now, I go online this morning and see someone else made that connection. It just struck me as an amusing coincidence. Although, really, it seems so obvious now; it's a wonder I haven't seen other comments on it!

And as I type this I make another connection. I already said Peeta makes me think of pita bread. Now, I'm thinking about the fact that his father is the baker and am amused to think he may have been named for one of their products! (I'm sure that's not really the case, but I'm giggling over it anyway.)

[mirhanda.livejournal.com]

OMG, that's funny! I like to think that his dad named him for the bread.

I stayed up WAY too late last night reading Mockingjay, the third in the series. I'm so tired today.

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I've always secretly loved the Hebrew name Petah, for a girl. The character Peeta only makes the name better in my mind. :)

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

I could never use it, but I seem to remember some famous musician named her daughter Petah. Ani Difranco, maybe?

[r0ck-y0ur-s0ul.livejournal.com]

I've liked Gale for a boy since Queer as Folk (the US version). I do like Primrose and Katniss but my favorite girl name is probably Gale's Mom's name, Hazelle.

[sictransitsuzy.livejournal.com]

This. Gale <3

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, Gale Harold is part of what made me like the name Gale too. I don't think it is one I like enough to use, but I would think it was totally cool to see someone else use. Actually, I could see myself using it as a middle.

[rorylareina.livejournal.com]

I like Rue and Seneca.

[anodetonoone.livejournal.com]

I loved Katniss and Primrose ever since I read the books. I'm not sure I'd ever bestow such names on real live children, though. Maybe a future cat.

[tiffanytee.livejournal.com]

Johanna is a very normal ordinary name. If Burton's Sweeney Todd didn't increase its popularity, I doubt the Hunger games will. Unless she is a very very prominent character (I haven't seen it or read the book yet).

Primrose I have heard as a name before. Always liked it and had it on my baby name list. I could see it gaining popularity because she is the sister and I'm guessing has a sweet personality. The Primrose is a pretty plant too.

I can see Rue and Madge gaining popularity because they have a powerful yet normal sound to them.

Gale is a normal name I can see coming back a little. But I am going to bet you see it on girls instead.

I really hate Peeta because I think of Lois on Family Guy saying Peter. I hope it doesn't become popular.

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

Johanna is like a side character but she does show up and is prominent with Katniss at one point so it's possible she'd be popular enough, I think it'll just matter who the actress is, how well she pulls off the character, and, of course, if the movies decide to keep her storyline the same. Personally, that was the only name that really stood out for me. I'd never use it, just not my style, but I think it sounds and looks pretty. It's probably spelled just odd enough to really catch on with the current trend without looking like you can't spell, though I'm sure there will be plenty of people to find an "interesting" way to spell it.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine Katniss, Gale, or Peeta becoming popular, but maybe Rue or Finnick. Personally I like Johanna and Madge. I remember liking the name Madge a lot when I read the first book.

[sictransitsuzy.livejournal.com]

I actually love a lot of these.. Katniss, Primrose, Effie, Glimmer, Clove, Rue, Marvel, Cato, Finnick, Thresh, Cinna, Seneca. All of these I would consider! Then again I tend to prefer somewhat unique/unusual (but not totally ridiculous) names over more common ones.

I can see Katniss becoming popular.

[mirhanda.livejournal.com]

Rue, Gale, Johanna, Cato and Madge are all fairly normal names that have fallen out of favor, so I could see those coming back anyway.

Gale Gordon (The Lucy Show)
Rue McClanahan (Golden Girls, Maude)
Johanna Lindsey (author)
Cato Fashions, Cato Institute, Kato Kaelin
Madge (You're soaking in it! Only us older ladies will get this, haha!), Madge Sinclair (Star Trek, The Lion King)

The others...not so much.